[charlie]

It will be interesting to see your restoration, unfortunately the links do not work.

[charlie]

It may well be worth having a look at the Trusty tractor page in the galleries on our website. This will give you an idea of what one looks like (should look like).
The earliest version had no bumper, just a longer chassis plate, the next version had a bumper like the one in this photo, this was then replaced with this version
Various engines were used, JAP, Douglas, Norton and others.
Without seeing the machine it is impossible to advise if you should ‘run away’ or ‘jump in’. Does engine turn or is seized would be a major factor.

[charlie]

Mayfields were fitted with various Villiers or Briggs & Stratton engines over the years. The Museum of English Rural LIfe (MERL) at Reading have a good collection of information about Mayfields, donated by VHGMC members.

[charlie]

The amount of paste required will depend on how blunt the blades are, so impossible to say how much you will need.

[charlie]

Are the stripes across whole width of area covered by machine or only one of the cutting heads?

[charlie]

You need to compress the photo files to less than 4MB.

[charlie]

I have resent pm. Oil for gearbox should be 140 non EP oil, I use Morris Oils AG 140 EP oils contain additives that can harm the bronze worm wheel. Engine oil Castrol XL sae30 or similar eg Morris Oils Golden Film SAE 30

[charlie]

The Monrotiller series 1 was in production from March 1951 to December 1952. Looking in the factory records 515 was exported via Andrew Beattie to Ivory Brothers 11th Feb 1952. I have sent you a pm regarding owners manual.

[charlie]

Re tread direction, I have always thought the same as Graeme, V forward for traction, V backward to reduce tendency of rotavator to push machine forwards.

[charlie]

If the photo was sent in a personal message log in then click on your user name, then click on messages tab, it may be there.

[charlie]

Burning nicotine to fumigate greenhouses?

[charlie]

Fuel mix 3/4 pint to 2 gallons of petrol.
Worm wheel gearbox oil EP140
Spark plug gap 0.018″
Points gap 0.014″
The owners manual does not specify plug or belt type or timing setting.

[charlie]

Have it shot blasted that will reveal any other thin spots.

[charlie]

Do you know which model of Roto gardener? Engine make and model? Photo of machine and engine.

[charlie]

To restore, renovate, preserve ?
This will always be a hot topic as every collector has their own view of what each term means. I remember what someone said to me some time ago, ‘it’s only original once’ ie as soon as you strip the paint, what little that may be left, and repaint it, then it is no longer truly original. What about in service repairs or modifications? Are these left in situ, as they are part of the machines history, or are they changed back to how the machine left the factory, destroying that part of it’s history in the process.
Thinking about my 1957 Land Rover in it’s tatty but loved state, I heard the comment, ‘every dent tells a tale’. Restoring the bodywork back to factory condition would destroy all that history and far too many vehicles are restored to a condition far better than when they left the factory eg perfectly flat, smooth shiny two pack paint.

[Author]

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